The Sophists and Socrates Flashcards
Who were the sophists?
In ancient Greece, the sophists were a group of teachers of philosophy and rhetoric who professed that one could not possess knowledge of ultimate reality and that moral value was indeterminate. They claimed they could find the answers to all questions. Mercenary in practice. Wise guys.
Who was the first Sophist?
Protagoras
What eventually led to the popular resentment against sophist practitioners and the ideas and writings associated with sophism?
Their attitude, coupled with the wealth garnered by many of the sophists- Many of them taught their skills for a price and commanded very high fees
Define Relativism
the idea that some elements of experience or culture are relative to or dependent on other elements or aspects. (that’s true for you but not me; beauty is in the eye of the beholder)
Define Truth Relativism
There are no absolute truths. Truth is always relative to some particular frame of reference, such as language or culture.
Define Moral Relativism
the position that moral or ethical propositions do not reflect objective or universal moral truths, but instead make claims relative to social, cultural, historical or personal circumstances.
Sophists were known for eristic argumentation. What is this?
reasoning that aims not at truth but at victory over an opponent or at making a weaker position prevail.
Who said “man is the measure of all things”?
Protagoras of Abdera
Protagora’s doctrines can be divided into what three groups?
Orthoepeia: the study of the correct use of words. Man is the measure statement: the notion that knowledge is relative to the knower. Agnosticism: the claim that we cannot know anything about the gods.
Who was Thrasymachus of Chalcedon?
A sophist (459-400 BCE) who defined and taught moral realism- the idea that might is right, injustice pays better than justice and the good guys finish last. Justice is the advantage of the stronger, and injustice if on a large enough scale, is stronger, freer, and more masterly than justice.
Who was Gorgias of Leontini?
A sophist (487-376 BCE), proponent of skepticism, relativism, and nominalism- the theory that words do not refer to real objects but are merely the names of ideas, especially words signifying abstract concepts: justice, truth, humanity, wisdom, etc.
What are the doctrines of Gorgias?
1-nothing exists 2- even if something exists, nothing can be known about it 3- even if something can be known about it, knowledge about it can’t be communicated to others.
Who said “speech is a powerful lord, which by means of the finest and most indivisible body effects of the divinest works: it can stop fear and banish grief and create joy and nurture pity”?
Gorgias of Leontini (from Encomium of Helen)
